Hi Sundari
I hope you are well and don’t mind writing to you again.
I had a question about the application of karma yoga in adharmic situations.
I started a new job (in the same company) earlier this year. To cut a long story short, my new manager has been bullying me – but only does it in 1:1 interactions when no one else is present. He says things about me that aren’t true, even when I provide written evidence to the contrary! A friend of mine who is a psychologist says my boss is displaying narcissistic behaviour.
More recently, he accuses me of being defensive and not treating him with respect, when I try to speak up for myself.
I have spoken to HR about it – and they said I need to prove the bullying, but it is my word against him. (As he does it when we are on our own)
Anyway, I am trying find a new job within the company or outside of the company ASAP because this situation has been going on for 6 months.
During the process I am following dharma by speaking the truth etc But from a karma yoga perspective, should I accept my boss’s behaviour towards me Prasad (a gift from god).
I had read that karma yoga doesn’t work in these adharmic situations ? But wanted to verify this with you.
Any guidance is much appreciated.
Sundari: Good to hear from you again, you are always welcome to write. This is a good question, and you are quite right, karma yoga does not work in adharmic situations, that is not what it is meant for. There is never a good reason to take abuse from anyone. Isvara is both dharma and adharma, that is the way the field works. And there are definitely times when it is required of us to say no to Isvara. If you don’t, you are saying it’s ok to be abused. Isvara does not mind because Isvara sees you as the Self. And remember, even an abuser is abused when their abuse is allowed to continue.
The dharmic thing to do is to remove yourself from the abuse as you cannot do anything constructive about it. Even if you could secretly film him abusing you, that would probably just cause a bigger problem. The manager who is abusing you may well be a classic insecure narcissist, but whatever the reason, it is just Isvara telling you to stand up for yourself by valuing your worth and saying no by moving on.
The right application of karma yoga is to take the appropriate steps to remove yourself from your current adharmic situation and then surrender the outcome to Isvara trusting that your needs will be taken care of. I hope you find a good position that is a true reflection of your worth.
Much love, and merry Christmas!
Sundari
